Plate

The combination of underglaze-blue with overglaze red and gold was a particular decorative scheme fashioned by the Kangxi imperial kiln (Palace Mus. 1989: 129-31). The contrast of the two dominant colors of blue and red is strong. The use of gold, either forming lines over the blue, or filling in the red outlines, was inspired by western color schemes. On this piece, the interior is painted with two chrysanthemum branches which alternate with two day lily blossoms surrounding a central chrysanthemum; the exterior bears two simple floral sprays. Mostly made for export, this type of ware was commonly inscribed with pictorial marks instead of reign marks.